7 Penang Food Tours That Will Explode Your Taste Buds! 

If you are wondering where to find palatable, appetizing foods in Malaysia, this Penang food tour is for you!

With a unique mixture of eastern, oriental, and local cultures, Penang is definitely a must-see place in Malaysia. 

It is also a well-known fact that Penang foods are incredibly delicious. (In fact, most Malaysians will totally agree with this statement.)

If you are wondering how I know Penang like the back of my hand, well, you have come to the right place because I already visited Penang countless times, either for vacation or family visits, so I am sure I can guide you like an expert!

Therefore, I believe all the food tours in Penang in this article will most likely help you to choose the best choice for your vacation.

Want to know more about this magnificent place or thinking about what to plan for your Penang food trip itinerary? Check out this list of Penang food tours to find out more!  

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The 7 Best Penang Food Tours List: 

1. 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 158 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 4 hours approximately

Why choose this tour? 

Your Penang food tour guide will take you off the beaten path to try out a variety of local cuisines that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. 

Since the Penang food trip will start later in the evening, you will get to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgetown less crowded. 

As a bonus, you will also have the opportunity to taste mocktails and cocktails before the tour ends! 

You would want to take advantage of this opportunity to taste mouth-watering, best food in Penang alongside a professional English-speaking tour guide who knows their way around the menu.

The 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour includes:

• Beverages and food tasting
• Dinner
• Professional and experienced tour guide
• Cocktail or Mocktail tasting

What past guests loved about the tour: 

“Our guide Soraya was very entertaining and informative. We learnt all about the history of Georgetown, she showed us lots of places and we tried plenty of food from the different areas. The tour lasted over 4 hours and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend.”

– Sandy_C (read more reviews) 

2. Food Tour at Penang – Eat Like a Local, Feel Like a Local

⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 9 positive reviews! | ⌛️Tour Length: 5 hours approximately

Why choose this tour? 

It is often said, “If you want to experience Malaysia at its very best, you must try its street foods.”, which is absolutely true. 

When visiting Penang, you will be overwhelmed by the endless possible choices of Penang popular food available to you.

This tour is considered one of the best Penang food tours, which includes a tasting of well-known Nasi Kandar at the Penang famous food place, 7 Bistro restaurant as well as locally-produced Chinese noodles in Penang food court called New World Park. 

You will also get the chance to visit the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, the hilltop temple which has been touted as the largest Lord Murugan temple outside India with an admission ticket included. 

Therefore, if you want to try the best food in Penang and dive deeper into the Penang food culture, this tour should definitely be your first choice!

The Food Tour at Penang – Eat Like a Local, Feel Like a Local includes:

• Lunch and dinner
• Snacks
• Coffee/tea
• Air-conditioned vehicle

What past guests loved about the tour: 

“Tiger is a Penangite with excellent conversant English communication and wealth of knowledge on history, cultures, geography, cuisine, government and people! 

He kept up hours of interesting information as we explored the area around George Town with a plethora of Malay dishes, walking through the six daily meals and saw some interesting sites, including a nature hike, picnic with view, and a sample pilgrimage hike (513 steps up and down – optional). 

Tiger explains the blending of cultures that created Penang food traditions, and you get to taste the results.”

– Sam L (read more reviews) 

3. 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Lunch Hop in George Town Penang

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 25 positive reviews! | ⌛️  Tour Length: 3 hours approximately

Why choose this tour? 

Eat your way through this 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Lunch Hop in George Town Penang where you get to enjoy Penang famous food with a guide for an enhanced experience.

This food tour in Penang is curated specifically for a smaller group so that you get to enjoy a more intimate glimpse into Georgetown while being provided with a comprehensive introduction to Penang that is ideal for first-time visitors. 

As part of this Penang day tour, you must meet your host at Ren I Tang Heritage Inn around 10.30 AM, or if you are early, you just need to inform the staff that you are there for the Heritage on a Plate food tour. 

After you have met your host, you will be taken to a few hot spots for Penang attractions and food tasting before ending the day at Lebuh Kimberly. 

Sounds like a great trip and want to know more about it? 

The 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Lunch Hop in George Town Penang includes:

• Professional English-speaking host
• Lunch and beverages
• Local taxes

What past guests loved about the tour: 

“My husband and I did this tour with our 4 year old son and were the only people on the tour. Our guide Jeremy was flexible with catering to our needs and was happy to answer all our questions including questions not really related to food. 

We enjoyed going to places we wouldn’t find on our own and trying the different local dishes, and hearing about the background to the dishes. 

Another highlight was the summary email Jeremy sent – outlining the places we went and the food we had, as well as recommendations of other places to go and what to have there and even how to order particular things. 

I’d highly recommend doing one of the Heritage on a Plate tours – particularly early on in your stay at Penang – however I would recommend trying for the dinner hop if possible because it is really hot in the middle of the day!”

– Kerry G (read more reviews) 

4. 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 71 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 3 hours approximately

Why choose this tour? 

If you are a foodie and currently searching for the best food tour in Penang that allows you to learn and understand deeper about the history of Georgetown, you should check this one out. 

This tour will bring you to the famous Little India where you can find loud Bollywood music during the night, scrumptious Indian delicacies, and various types of Indian pieces of jewelry and accessories that you can buy to bring back to your home country!

Also on this tour, you will get the chance to explore Armenian Street and Chulia Street, which are also tourist hotspots and must-visit Penang streets. 

FYI, Chulia Street is dubbed to be the famous Penang food street -as it is a food heaven that you should not miss out on.

Here, you will also see there will be a Penang food truck that sells Lok Lok, while others sell Rojak and steamboats! 

So, if you book this Penang street food tour, you must try these local cuisines!

The 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang includes:

• Professional English-speaking host
• Dinner and non-alcoholic drink
• Local taxes
• Admission to Little India, Armenian Street, and Chulia Street.

What past guests loved about the tour: 

“Our host Jeremy was not only informative, interesting and enthusiastic about Penang’s culinary delights but also its diverse history and melting pot of cultures. We discovered the hidden food stalls and experienced a fantastic variety of food on offer. Walking the streets and learning about how Penang was settled was amazing. Our last stop for the night was a Michelin restaurant and was an amazing way to cap off what was one of the best food tours ever.

Fully recommend you try it..”

– Genine J (read more reviews) 

5. Chef Samuel’s Private Malaysian Cooking Class with Wet Market Tour

⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 17 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 5 hours approximately

Why choose this tour? 

Ever wonder what it takes to make delicious, tempting Malaysian foods that you had tried somewhere but cannot figure out the ingredients? 

Or maybe you want to learn some local cuisines that are always made into the food tours in Penang? 

This tour is certainly the ideal package for you as you will get to learn how to cook Malaysian delicacies with the renowned Chef Samuel that will show you step-by-step how to make mouth-watering local main dishes.

For this Penang culinary tour, you will be taught 3 signature dishes of your own choice from scratch under his supervision. 

In case you have a diet restriction, rest assured because Chef Samuel will do his best to cater to your request and make sure that you will learn how to cook Malaysian cuisine based on your dietary requirements.

The Samuel’s Private Malaysian Cooking Class with Wet Market Tour includes:

• Private transportation
• Customized recipes according to your preference
• Lunch and breakfast
• Drinks

What past guests loved about the tour: 

“I spent a fun afternoon learning to cook some of Penang’s famous street food dishes. Chef Samuel provided easy-to-follow recipes and coaching during the 4-hour cooking class. 

You can select the dishes you would like to cook and customize them to any dietary restrictions you may have. This was perfect for me since I don’t eat red meat, pork, or poultry. 

Come hungry! You’ll spend the afternoon eating lots of delicious food. The cooking class begins with a trip to the market to pick up supplies and ingredients for the class. You’ll then enjoy a light lunch at the local hawker. 

Next, you’ll go to Chef Samuel’s cooking studio. You’ll enjoy great views of Penang as you cook and eat your creations. 

Chef Samuel’s cooking class is a great experience for anyone interested in learning to cook some of the food they’ve had while traveling in Penang.”

– Tripadvisor reviewer (read more reviews) 

6. Penang Harmony Food Trail

⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 19 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 4 hours approximately

Why choose this tour? 

Get to know some famous Malaysian foods such as Cendol, Laksa, and Char Koay Teow through this Penang food trail tour!  

This tour is curated specially for those who want to learn and are not afraid to try local cuisines while staying in Penang. 

So if you are THAT person, you should never skip this Penang food trail package as you get to learn and discover the cultural foods that you will be enjoying. 

Sounds like a great tour right?

Not only that, but the tour guide will also bring you over to the historic and heritage sights such as the 18th-century Goddess of Mercy Temple and the Chinese Clan Houses.

These food and sightseeing opportunities combined truly make Penang Harmony Food Trail the best Georgetown Penang food tour!

The Penang Harmony Food Trail includes:

• Beverages
• Food tasting
• Lunch
• Snacks
• Professional tour guide

What past guests loved about the tour: 

“We had such a wonderful tour with Lee. Lee was very well-informed, personable, and eager to make sure our experience was fabulous—which it was. We were introduced to the most amazing, traditional food and the various different cultures that reside within Georgetown. 

Lee was extremely knowledgeable in all of these areas. I thoroughly recommend Lee as your guide and also would recommend that you take this tour as soon as you arrive to get your bearings and understand the cultures, customs, and the area that you are visiting.”

– Tripadvisor reviewer (read more reviews)

7. Private Half-Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour

⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 6 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 4 hours approximately

Why choose this tour? 

As for your last food tour Georgetown Penang, this is the perfect package if you want the free will to try Penang street foods either in the morning or after lunch hour. 

In this package, you will be guided by a helpful and knowledgeable tour guide who will take the time to let you truly enjoy back lanes and go off the beaten track of Georgetown.

You also do not have to worry because they can pick you up at the hotel so long that you are staying close by on Penang Island. 

This tour is also an ideal choice if you crave to try Penang food attractions and would love to wander around town to experience the specialties of different cultures.

So, what are you waiting for? Book this tour now! 

The Private Half-Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour includes:

• All taxes, fees, and handling charges
• Food tasting
• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking guide
• Non-alcoholic beverages

What past guests loved about the tour: 

“We had a wonderful and tasty street food tour in Penang. Our guide Aldrin did not only take us to different local cafés, restaurants and street food stalls, but also some cultural/heritage sites. 

He generously shared knowledge about the food, places and people we came across. This tour exceeded our expectations, we truly had a great time with Aldrin. 

We would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to experience the food and culture in Penang.”

– GetYourGuide traveler (read more reviews)

What Are Some Famous Foods In Penang ?

Penang is where you can find the delicious blend of cultures of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Peranakan. If you want to try a fusion of the best cuisines of each culture in Penang, here is the list!

1. Penang Char Koay Teow (*Penang most famous food* stir-fried rice noodles with soy sauce, eggs, cockles, bean sprouts, and some fresh prawns)
2. Penang Asam Laksa (tamarind, fish-based noodle soup)
3. Tau Sar Piah (a fluffy-crust pastry filled with green bean or red bean fillings)
4. Seafood popiah (Thin, crepe-like skin spring roll stuffed with vegetables and crab meats)
5. Nasi Kandar (steamed biryani rice served with distinct curries, gravies, and side dishes such as grilled squid, fried chicken, or mutton curry)
6. Hokkien Prawn Mee (a prawn noodles soup made out of prawn and pork stock and served with chili and lime on top)
7. Pasembur (Malaysian salad or rojak consisting of potatoes, cucumber, beancurd, eggs, tofu, and fritters topped with a spicy peanut sauce)
8. Nasi Lemak (steamed fragrant coconut rice served with fried anchovies, boiled eggs or fried chicken, cucumbers, and some roasted peanuts)
9. Oyster Omelette (a dish of fried eggs mixed with shallots and garlic, fresh oysters, and tapioca flour)
10.  Wantan Mee (Cantonese egg noodles, served either dry or with soup, together with some toppings like Chinese barbecued pork, pickled green chilies, and vegetables). 

Do The Tours Include These Scrumptious Foods Above In Their Package?

It is not guaranteed that your tour guide will take you to the places where all of these foods are sold. You can, however, request them to try these best Penang food to eat and I am sure that they will be more than happy to introduce you to authentic Penang dishes.

Penang Food List – Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Recommendations.

Searching for the best Penang breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations? Check this list down here for your food guide!

Breakfast: 

• Roti Canai
• Nasi Lemak
• Roti Bakar and half-boiled eggs Kopitiam style
• Curry Mee
• Hokkien Mee

Lunch:

• Asam Laksa
• Nasi Kandar
• Wantan Mee
• Mee Rebus
• Chicken Rice
• Pasembur Rojak
• Cendol

Dinner:

• Oyster Omelette
• Chee Cheong Fan
• Char Koay Teow
• Lok Lok
• Seafood popiah

FAQs on BEST Penang Food Tours That Will Be Unforgettable In Your Trip.

What Is The Local Eating Etiquette Do & Don’t?

Do you want to know what the local eating etiquette do & don’t? Well, in the cultural etiquette sense, there are a few things that you need to adhere to as Malaysia is composed of different ethnic groups.

Some of the local eating etiquettes is as below:

• Malaysian Malay Meals: It is common practice that you will use your right hand to eat your food. Therefore, it is absolutely important to wash your hands before eating or serving food to the next person.
• When you are in Malay restaurants or shops, do not use your left hand as it is considered rude, inappropriate, and unhygienic. 
• In the dishes, spoons are provided only for scooping and putting food on your plate.
• Do not offer dishes that contain non-halal ingredients such as pork and alcohol to your Malay friends as this is deemed to be offensive.
• Malaysian Indian Meals: Indians don’t usually use cutlery for eating food, they prefer eating with their right hands, just like the Malay people.
• Cows are regarded as holy creatures by Indians who practice the Hindu religion, so avoid giving any dishes that contain any beef-related ingredients to your Indian peers.
• Eat at a medium pace and do not waste any food on your plate as it is considered extremely disrespectful.
• Malaysian Chinese Meals: Chinese people commonly use utensils such as chopsticks, spoons, and sometimes forks when eating.
• When you are eating with chopsticks, never stick your chopsticks into the food or rice as this is seen as a curse in their culture.
• Ultimately, do not use your chopsticks as a tool to point, move or even play as drumsticks on the table.

How Much Budget Should I Allocate When Traveling In Penang?

Want to know how much budget you should have when traveling in Penang? To answer this question, it depends on how much you are willing to spend for your Malaysia trip as there is no exact amount of budget that is right or wrong for you.

However, if you are backpacking to Penang, I would say USD $10-20 per day (excluding the accommodation) is considered reasonable.

If you are concerned about the price of the food in Penang, just know that Penang food prices are relatively cheap and reasonable, especially if you are aiming for street food Penang. 

But, as all the tours in this list are more than USD $10, I recommend capping your budget to around USD $20-$30 per day, just for your use aside from buying food at Penang.

After all, these tours already included everything so you do not have to DIY your schedule in case you want to do sightseeing and try out Penang foods.

Are Penang Foods Halal?

Are Penang Foods mostly halal (permissible to eat in Islam)? Do note that although most Malaysian foods are served halal, however, you might have a lot of signs saying “Non-halal”, “Served Pork/Lard” and “Tidak (Not) Halal” which indicates that the shops or restaurants serve pork, and alcohol in Penang.

Georgetown, the capital of Pulau Pinang is predominantly Chinese and most Chinese foods contain non-halal ingredients. This also includes some of the Indian and Peranakan shops that sell their non-halal cuisines too.

So if you are Muslim, or someone who is doing a halal Penang food hunt, one tip is that it is best to seek out restaurants owned by Malays or Mamaks (Indian Muslims) as these places are halal-guaranteed.

I Have a Nut Allergy, So Which Malaysian Foods Should I Avoid?

So, if you have a nut allergy, which Malaysian foods you should avoid? Most Malaysian foods contain peanuts, which may pose a challenge for tourists with nut allergies.

If you have a severe nut allergy, avoid Nasi Lemak, Popiah, Rojak, Sat, ay, and ABC ice shave desserts as these are among the foods that have peanuts.

As peanuts are a staple part of the Malaysian diet, particularly among Malays and Chinese, it can be hard to find foods that contain no trace of them in the meals.

However, what I will suggest to you to avoid any unneeded allergy reaction that may disrupt your vacation is to ask the restaurant staff or when you are dining in Malay eateries, you may show this to the waiter/waitress when you are ordering the food:

“Saya ada masalah alergi kacang tanah, kalau saya termakan nanti boleh ada masalah kesihatan sampai masuk wad. Dekat sini ada makanan yang tak ada kacang tak?”

(I have a peanut allergy. If I eat it, I will get health problems which may lead to being warded. Is there any food that doesn’t contain nuts at all?)

Hopefully, this translation will help you with your order. Should you accidentally ingest peanuts, keep your medication with you at all times so you can take it whenever needed.

That’s it, my friends, a list of flavourful, mouth-watering food tours Georgetown Penang that you should try!

Whether you want to get an authentic Malaysian Kopitiam experience or just simply savor hawker foods from the street markets, I compiled everything in this article to make things easier for you.

If you want to find out more details about Penang foods, you can try to look into this 17 Instagrammable Cafes In Penang [Cute And Affordable!].

Also, you can check out the Best Cake Shop In Penang (17 Yummy Pastries and Bread Too!) article if you are a sweet tooth and like to explore dessert shops in any place you go.

I hope that you find this article useful and feel free to share it with your family and friends. Till then, foodies! Happy planning! (and happy eating too!)

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